Parliament must answer for its failure to oversee Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies that obstruct investment and job creation, says the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).
In letters sent this week, the IRR urges 64 MPs serving on key economic committees to demand answers on how many jobs, investments, and businesses have been lost due to BEE. A recent example is Starlink, which was blocked from entering the market, sacrificing economic opportunities to protect BEE elites.
In a statement, IRR Head of Strategic Communications Hermann Pretorius says: “Despite South Africa’s severe unemployment crisis, government persists with BEE – an elitist policy that benefits the connected few while keeping millions in poverty. Parliament must challenge harmful policies instead of remaining silent.” Pretorius says: “Starlink is just one recent prominent case. How many other businesses have been discouraged due to racial quotas?
Parliament cannot ignore policies that deepen poverty and economic exclusion.” The IRR has also written to ministries involved in BEE enforcement, including Employment and Labour, Small Business Development, Trade and Industry, and International Relations. This week, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi was included. Pretorius commends Malatsi for challenging BEE’s costs in the Information and Communications Technology sector.
“Few cabinet members have acted to mitigate BEE’s economic damage. We look forward to working with him to quantify these costs and push for further change.”
But Parliament must choose, Pretorius warns. “Support economic inclusion and job creation, or enable a system that serves only the cadre elite while millions suffer. History will judge their actions – or inaction.”
The IRR will be sharing all correspondence on its social media platforms, including responses from ministers, and upcoming engagements with businesses and corporates invested in the BEE industry.
[Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starlink_Mission_(47926144123).jpg#/media/File:Starlink_Mission_(47926144123).jpg]